One Aliyu Bello, the nephew of Yahaya Bello, the Governor of Kogi State, and one Dauda Sulaiman have been indicted and jailed pending fulfillment of their bail conditions.
They were arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Thursday before Judge James Kolawole Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja.
Also indicted on one count of 10 counts of misappropriation and money laundering was one Abdulsalami Hudu (now a fugitive), a Cahier of Kogi State House Administration.
Bello and Sulaiman were charged with fraudulently withdrawing the sum of ten billion two hundred and seventy million, five hundred and fifty six thousand eight hundred naira (N10, 270 556 800) from the Kogi state treasury.
After making such a withdrawal, they handed the money over to an Exchange Office operator, Rabiu Tafada in Abuja, for safekeeping or exchange into foreign currencies for personal gain.
They had pleaded not guilty to charges brought against them by the anti-corruption agency.
One of the charges reads: “That you, ALI BELLO, DAUDA SULEIMAN AND ABDULSALAMI HUDU (NOW AT FREEDOM) between January and December 2021, in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, got RABIU USMAN TAFADA to take possession of the aggregate sum of N5,865,756,800 (five thousand eight hundred and sixty-five million, seven hundred and fifty-six thousand, eight hundred naira), which sum should have been reasonably known to be part of the proceeds of unlawful activity, namely: criminal misappropriation of Kogi state treasury and thereby committed an offense contrary to sections 18(c), 15(2)(d) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act 2011, as amended and punishable in under section 15 (3) of the same Act”.
Another charge reads: “That you, ALI BELLO, DAUDA SULEIMAN AND ABDULSALAMI HUDU (NOW IN FULL) between January and December 2021, in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, assisted RABIU USMAN TAFADA in withholding the full sum of N2,509,650,000.00 ( two thousand five hundred and nine million, six hundred and fifty thousand), the sum of which you should have reasonably known to be part of the proceeds of an illegal activity, namely: criminal misappropriation of the Kogi state government treasury and, therefore, therefore committed an offense contrary to sections 18(a) 15(2)(d) of the Prohibition of Money Laundering Act 2011, as amended and punishable under section 15(3) of the same Act.” .
Rotimi Oyedepo SAN, the prosecution lawyer, in view of his allegations, had asked the court to set a date for the start of the trial.
But the lawyer for the second and third defendants, Abdulwahab Mohammed SAN, informed the court of his request for bail for the defendants.
The acting judge admitted that the defendants posted bail in the sum of 1 billion naira each.
They were also required to submit two collateral which had to provide a bond of 2 billion naira each and hold land valued at 500 million naira.
The title of the properties will be registered before the principal registrar of the Court.
Each of the sureties and the defendants will present their bank statements and international passports to the Chief Clerk of the Court.
In addition, guarantees must also produce an affidavit of means and evidence of tax settlement for at least 3 years.
The defendants were sent to Kuje Prison, Abuja pending fulfillment of their bail conditions and adjourned the matter to 6 February 2023 for hearing.